English · KJV
H2329

חוּג

chûwg /khoog/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom חוּג
Meaninga circle
KJV usagecircle, circuit, compass.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of chûwg — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word chûwg, represented by H2329, defines a circle, circuit, or compass. It appears 3 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible. This term describes the vast, curved boundary of the earth or the heavens, often in the context of God's creative power and sovereign domain over the cosmos.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H2329 is used exclusively in contexts describing the grand scale of God's creation and authority. In Isaiah, God is depicted as the one who "sitteth upon the circle of the earth" Isaiah 40:22, establishing his supreme vantage point over all inhabitants. In Proverbs, wisdom is present when God "set a compass upon the face of the depth" Proverbs 8:27, an act of delineating boundaries during creation. Finally, in Job, God is described as he who "walketh in the circuit of heaven" Job 22:14, signifying his dominion over the celestial realm.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words expand upon the concepts of creation, domain, and divine boundaries:

  • H3427 yâshab (to sit down... to dwell, to remain): This word is used to describe God who "sitteth" upon the circle of the earth Isaiah 40:22, signifying a position of authority and enthronement.
  • H2710 châqaq (to hack, i.e. engrave... prescribe; appoint, decree): This term describes the action of establishing the compass in Proverbs 8:27. It implies a permanent, decreed boundary, as when God states, "I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands" Isaiah 49:16.
  • H8064 shâmayim (the sky... heaven(-s)): This is the realm where the "circuit" is found Job 22:14 and what is stretched out above the "circle" of the earth Isaiah 40:22. It is the primary domain associated with God's creative work and dwelling place Genesis 1:1.
  • H8415 tᵉhôwm (an abyss... the deep): This word identifies the primordial waters over which God set a compass Proverbs 8:27, bringing order and containment to what was once a "surging mass of water" Genesis 1:2.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H2329 is demonstrated through its powerful contextual imagery.

  • Divine Sovereignty: The concept of God sitting above the "circle of the earth" Isaiah 40:22 establishes his transcendence and absolute rule over the world and its inhabitants.
  • Creative Order: By setting a "compass upon the face of the depth" Proverbs 8:27, the word illustrates God's power to create order, establish boundaries, and define the structure of the cosmos.
  • Immensity of God's Domain: The phrase "circuit of heaven" Job 22:14 conveys the vastness of God's sphere of influence and activity, emphasizing that His presence encompasses the entire expanse of the heavens.

Summary

In summary, H2329 is more than a simple geometric term. Though used only three times, it paints a profound theological picture of God's relationship to His creation. It defines the scope of the cosmos He governs, from the "circle of the earth" Isaiah 40:22 to the "circuit of heaven" Job 22:14. It illustrates his power to bring order from chaos by setting a boundary for the deep Proverbs 8:27, portraying a sovereign Creator who establishes the very limits of existence.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun and a verb across 4 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • חוּג
  • חָג
  • חוּג

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H3427 יָשַׁב a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remai H2710 חָקַק a primitive root; properly, to hack, i.e. engrave (Judges 5:14, to be a scribe simply); by implication, to enact (laws b H8064 שָׁמַיִם dual of an unused singular שָׁמֶה; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding H8415 תְּהוֹם or תְּהֹם; (usually feminine) from הוּם; an abyss (as a surging mass of water), especially the deep (the main sea or the

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 3 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Job, Proverbs, and Isaiah (1 verse each); never once in the other 36.

1
Job
1
Proverbs
1
Isaiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.